Campaign launched to turn Ian Curtis’ former home into Joy Division museum

A campaign has been launched to buy Ian Curtis’ house and turn it into a Joy Division museum after the property was put on the market for £115,000.

The two-bedroom property at 77 Barton Street, Macclesfield is currently on sale and featured on Rightmove.

The listing reads: “Situated in a popular and central location, this double-fronted character cottage offers spacious accommodation with two reception rooms, two double bedrooms, a good size kitchen and a shared courtyard garden.”

The house was previously on the market for £64,950 in 2002. It was used as a location in the 2007 Anton Corbijn-directed film Control. Curtis took his own life in the property on May 18, 1980 at the age of 23, days before the band were due to undertake a US tour.

Fans are trying to group together to buy the house in order to prevent developers from getting it. Zak Davies, who started the campaign, which has raised £600 so far, said on its website: “As important as every member of Joy Division was to the band, one member that made the difference was Ian Curtis. The troubled yet gifted singer and lead guitarist has impacted upon so many peoples lives.

“Recently his final home and the place where he spent his final moments has gone up for sale in Macclesfield. Rather than it be taken by developers or sold for development, we feel a place with such cultural significance with such an important man attached deserves to be made into a museum and somewhere that Joy Division fans from around the world can come to pay respects and learn about Ian Curtis.”

Joy Division’s debut EP ‘An Ideal For Living’ was released for last year’s Record Store Day. The record was made in 1978, shortly after the band dropped their original name Warsaw.